Portrait of Rishi Sunak
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Rishi Sunak on Rwanda Plan (Asylum)

Strong advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Rishi Sunak is strongly committed to the Rwanda Plan, asserting flights will occur if he is re-elected to stop illegal migration.

Key Points

  • The Prime Minister conceded in May 2024 that flights would only commence after the general election if he was re-elected.

  • Legislation to enact the plan, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, was passed in April 2024 after overcoming House of Lords amendments.

  • The initial policy was blocked by the Supreme Court in November 2023, prompting the introduction of new legislation declaring Rwanda a safe country.

Summary

Rishi Sunak strongly advocates for the contentious plan to deport asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats to Rwanda for their claims to be processed there. This policy is central to his pledge to stop the dangerous Channel crossings, and he has invested significant political capital to see the associated legislation passed, despite facing numerous legal challenges. The government introduced the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill in December 2023 after the Supreme Court ruled the initial scheme unlawful because of concerns that returnees faced persecution in Rwanda.

The passage of the necessary legislation moved closer after the government rejected proposed changes from the House of Lords in March 2024, pushing the bill toward becoming law, although the actual removal flights faced a delay. The Prime Minister conceded in May 2024 that the first deportation flights would only take off after the upcoming general election, contingent on his party's success at the polls. The stated aim of the deportation policy is to create a deterrent effect, thereby reducing the number of irregular arrivals and the associated public housing costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rishi Sunak remains a strong advocate for the Rwanda Plan, considering it a crucial part of his strategy to control migration and stop small boat crossings. He has committed to ensuring deportation flights leave the UK if he secures re-election in the next general election.

Following the passage of the enabling legislation, the Prime Minister admitted in May 2024 that the first deportation flights to Rwanda would not happen until after the general election. He had previously committed to flights taking off in the spring of 2024.

The government overcame a significant legal hurdle after the Supreme Court ruled the original scheme unlawful in late 2023. To counter this, Rishi Sunak introduced emergency legislation designed to deem Rwanda safe and override certain human rights law provisions.